How To Use Hemp Seed or Jojoba Oil As A Cleanser & Moisturizer

byFran

I’ve been using oils as my cleanser and moisturiser for years. I used to be afraid of them, convinced that any type of oil was going to break me out. But then I learned that some oils don’t clog your pores, and some oils even help to clear out clogged up skin. I’ve been a convert ever since!

Why hemp seed and jojoba oils are my favourites

Hemp seed oil

Hemp seed oil is my new number one favourite oil. It has a comedogenic rating of 0 which means it is safe to use on acne prone skin and will not clog your pores. In fact, it will actually help to balance out your excess sebum.

When linoleic acid is not available in the skin the sebaceous glands produce sebum with oleic acid, which is is drier and firmer than healthy sebum. This dry and firm sebum can then easily become stuck and form blackheads and whiteheads. Hemp seed oil contains a perfect ratio of EFA’s and therefore providing our skin with the much needed linoleic acid if it is lacking. In fact, hemp seed oil contains 57% of linoleic acid which is a lot!

Jojoba oil

Jojoba is technically not an oil, it’s a liquid wax with a funny name. But it looks like an oil and feels like an oil on the skin. Sebum is composed primarily of gycerides, free fatty acids, wax esters and squalenes. Jojoba oil is composed primarily of wax esters and fatty acids which is why many say that is the oil that most closely resembles human sebum. Check out this diagram of jojoba wax esters molecular structure compared to our own wax esters to show just how similar they are:

Because of this similarity when used as a cleanser and moisturiser it can actually help to reduce sebum production. However, if you have a lot of clogged pores then it can begin the process of purging them out which can be a bit of a difficult process for some. I have found that jojoba oil is best suited for those that do not have a lot of comedonal acne.

Jojoba oil is also naturally anti-bacterial so it can help to prevent new acne from forming. But remember, it is very unlikely for any external treatment to successfully work at curing our skin – it’s important to work internally too.

How to use these oils for cleansing & moisturising

Using these oils is actually the easiest thing in the world. I don’t do the Oil Cleansing Method (OCM) because I found it to be too aggressive on my skin. My philosophy is gentle and simple and it seems to be working well for me.

First, rinse your face and neck with warm water. Then pour a generous amount of the oil into the palm of your hand. You apply it as you would any other cleanser or soap. You don not need to spend time massaging or rubbing it in unless you love how it feels!

Next, simply rinse the oil off with warm water. You’ll find that a lot of the oil will remain on your skin and that’s okay. If you wish to exfoliate, now is the time to do that. Note that I often cleanse again with the oil after I’ve exfoliated.

Pat your face and neck with a towel to dry. Most of the oil residue will come off with the towel. If your skin is feeling in any way dry or tight, then apply more of the oil. I find that I use a lot more hemp seed oil than I do jojoba (I actually use quite a generous amount of hemp seed oil as my moisturiser!!). The hemp seed oil seems to have a way of soaking beautifully into the skin after five minutes or so. But the jojoba oil can remain on the top and become a bit too oily if applied too heavily.

Remember, you may not necessarily need to use a moisturiser. Here in the Andes in Peru it’s very dry so I need a lot. When I’m in Australia in the summer or Bali, then I don’t apply any moisturiser because the weather is so hot and humid. Just see how your skin feels – you’re looking for any feelings of dry or tightness.

How often do you cleanse this way?

Cleanse and moisturise as often or as little as you need – there are no rules. Peronsally I cleanse every and moisturise every time I take a shower and don’t worry about it in between unless I need to wash my face.

What about removing makeup?

If you wear just a little bit of mineral foundation then you may find this method is enough to get your makeup off. If however you feel that it doesn’t, or you’re wearing a good amount of makeup, then either cleanse twice and/or use a natural face wash cloth with the oil to properly get the makeup off. I keep a stack of face cloths so that I can just machine wash them after use.

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TejinderJanuary 18, 2018, 4:30 pm

Hi Fran,
Would it be okay if I only cleansed my face with hemp oil at night like you wrote above and then just spritz or use a pad to put rose water on my face in the morning with the hemp oil as a moisturizer. Or is it better to wash my face morning and night?

Hi! I’m still confused…I want to use the jojoba mostly as a moistuozer but also do want to use it to cleanse my face. If I want to use as a moisturizer do I leave on face for a bit and rinse after I apply?? Or leave it on my face?

Recently went off of births control for health reasons ans my 40 yr old skin has begun having all sorts of issues! My skin is suddenly very dry and sensitive. Almost every lotion I have tried cause my face to feel like it’s on fire and turns it red, so I began using natural facewash, coconut oil to remove my makeup, and a thick lotion at night for a moisturizer. My skin is still very dry, blotchy, and now my pores are clogged and I’m breaking out. Would love to use some oils to help with these issues. Suggestions?

Yes coconut oil can be very pore clogging. It even broke my 68 yr old mom out! I have acne prone skin and find jojoba oil and rosehip oil mix together has worked wonders on my face and chest and is actually preventing breakouts. I’ll have to try the hempseed oil!

Thank you so much for doing the research and writing this wonderful article. I am unsure on wither to use Jojoba oil or Hemp oil. I would love your thoughts on using Hemp Oil at night as a moisturiser and then using the Jojoba in the morning under my mineral makeup?

Hi Fran,
I have blemishes on my face ie on cheeks and nose. I have heat coming out my face especially from cheeks from the last 2 days. What could be the reason of it? I ate pizza with tabasco sauce for dinner, is it because of this food?
Thanks!

I just switched to using hemp oil. I was an avid jojoba oil user in colllege. I use Manila honey on my face, rinse, and then apply hemp oil to moisturizer. I’m not having luck keeping acne at bay, even with the wonderful antibiotic properties of the honey. I was wondering how one would know if they have acne from clogged pores vs internal cause vs the switching in products? Is it possible my skin prefers the jojoba oil? I do love the texture of the hemp oil, but it seems oily and as if it’s too heavy. Everything I’m reading says I should have no acne problems with this product. Any recommendations?

I’m curious, too. I have been using acv after oil cleansing. (not every day – i don’t use the ocm everyday or even wash my face every day) but i started using acv about 6 mos ago as a toner and i just put about 1-2 droppers on the corner of a damp or wet face cloth and pad it around face, neck, etc (it’s good all over – various benefits) .. i don’t rinse it off. i proceed with moisturizing. (i feel like this works well on my skin … i don’t see a reason to rinse off but maybe there is something for me to learn here) … ps — you can also infuse the acv with herbs to receive additional benefits)

hey andrea
thanks for your input. like what herbs can you infuse with. my face gets black heads and whiteheads and i have spots from previous break outs especially on the jaw line. do you have an idea on this?

Besides the lifestyle that I’m currently living (healthy eating, working out, parasite cleansing, taking supplements…) I recently started cleansing and moisturising with Organic hemp seed oil again. I have hormonal acne around my chin and mouth.
However, up untill now I’ve been using a natural product with glycolic acid, this exfoliated my skin really well. I want to go all natural.. But now that I’m only using hemp seed oil on my skin, I have clogged pores on my chin that turn into small pimples. Is this a natural process because I stopped using an acid and does my skin have to balance itself out? Or do you in some cases recommend still using a natural form of acid to aid in the process?

i have just been learning about the oil cleansing method and using castor oil and non-adulterated olive oil. i like it a lot but now curious to try hemp! .. i am very curious what you think about using raw local honey in skin care? either as a mask alone or with some drops lemon juice, and/or a dollop in with the oil (hemp) as a cleanser. .. i love how it feels in with the oil for cleansing .. is rather addictive esp with some eo’s. .. and overall i’m so impressed with the results i’m seeing in my skin. .. pores seem so much cleaner and some enlarged pores i’ve had for years have shrinked right down. .. also find my skin is more glowy.

Hi Fran, I have 2 questions.
Is it possible to use hemp seed oil as cleanser and moisturizer on back and shoulder acne as well?

Secondly, I have been washing morning and night with hemp seed oil for about a week now but my face gets a bit itchy and blotchy after each cleanse. This has been happening even before when I was using a Clinique cleanser and the one before it. It goes away after about 20 min, do you think it’s ok to continue? I would really like to give it a longer term chance and willing to put up with it (as I have been for a while now) but only if it’s not actually a sign that I’m doing harm. What do you think?

Pumpkin seed oil is remarkable for the skin and acne. Has the right amount of Linoleic acid and Oleic acid to balance the skin. It goes on easy and absorbs quickly leaving the face, after 1-2 drops, without a greasy feel. Pumpkin seed oil also makes for a great cleanser when using the OCM at night and as a moisturizer after water cleansing in the morning. It has anti-aging properties and is packed with EFA’s. Give the oil a try it won’t disappoint!

Hi Fran,
I wear makeup and concealer almost every day when I go out of the house. I have oily and blemished and sensitive skin. Blemishes on my cheeks started when I was 27 and now I am 41; blemishes have covered a lot of area on my face ie cheeks to eyebrows. I reason OCM on one of the website and used castor oil and got scars on my nose. I am still wash my face with jojoba oil, tea tree oil, grapeseed and Avacado oil mixture. My skin likes oil cleanser rather than chemical cleanser. But still I have lots of white heads and blemishes are covering new areas on my face. I eat vegetarian healthy food. Please help!
Thanks a lot
Nav

Hi Nav, in 99% of cases of chronic acne in adult women the issue is coming from an internal imbalance. We need to check in with the systems of your body to see if anything needs to be rebalanced. It is unlikely that the skin care you’re using alone will clear the skin, unless you’re using pharmaceutical topicals. If you would like me to take a look we can work together in a consultation.

I’ve been using 100% organic hemp seed oil as a cleanser for the past year and it really works great for my combination/blemished highly sensitive skin. The question I have relates to whether to use the hemp seed oil that I get from the cooking aisle, or the cosmetic grade? I’ve always used the one from the cooking aisle, but was recently told by someone from the health food store that I should be using the cosmetic one. I tried the cosmetic one, but did not find it half as good! It was thin in consistency and not nearly as moisturising after I cleansed. Would I be harming my skin by continuing to use the cooking grade?

Hi Mich, any hemp seed oil that you buy needs to come from the refrigeration section, and preferably organic, apart from that it’s not important. If you like the cooking one better, then keep up with that one for sure!! It won’t be harming your skin 🙂

Hi Fran, may I know what do you use for your face exfoliation? Or what would you recommend for exfoliating ? I’m using jojoba oil for cleansing and moisturizing not long ago(about 3 weeks), I don’t really exfoliate my face as I have sensitive skin, however sometimes I do feel like I need a little exfoliation as those dead skins and white heads are not really shedding away at times …
Thank you , cheers
Alva

Thanks Fran,
I read that twice actually before this and after, however I couldn’t find anything about exfoliation on that page, haha
Anyway I then found the link of your post ‘the best way to exfoliate acne prone skin’ at the bottom on this page, I will try the cloth method, hope that helps, cheers

Hi! I recently started using hemp seed oil as a cleanser and moisturizer. It’s only been 2 days so not sure of results just yet. However, I was wondering? Can I use an spf after I moisturize with oil or will it clog pores? Thanks!

I’ve recently started cleansing with hemp seed oil to combat my EXCESSIVELY oily skin and after just 2 days my makeup was lasting longer than it ever had. In terms of oil control I can’t reccomend it enough, plus im saving a bomb on skincare products. However I’ve noticed that my forehead and nose are drying out. What can I do to control my oil without drying out other areas?

Hi Fran,
Thanks so much for your helpful website! I want very much to read your article on
How To Clear Acne Scars, but when I click the link it is blank–no article. Will you put it back up at some point!

I have a question. I have just ordered hemp seed oil. I’ve got castor oil which I really like. Usually I leave it on my face overnight then rinse it in the morning.
If I mix these oils together can I leave it on overnight? Or is it OK to mix them at all?

im aman age 55 had acne when young and sun damage in my 20s i live now in england past 15 yrs originally from bondi sydney my skin looks much better now can i use jojoba oil as a cleaneser and moisturiser

I am 39 years old and live in Mumbai, India. I have skin that can be rather reactive. I have never had acne as a teenager. Not even one. And no clogged pores. But all that has changed over the years. Anyhow, my current issue is this: I started using a Forest Essential cream and when it showed adverse effects, I shifted to Jojoba Organic Cold Pressed Oil after a friend recommended it to me. What I realised is that my skin is breaking out into what looks like white heads or clogged pores. Is this the flushing out process that you have spoken of above? What should I do now to either help the flushing or to get back to normal? I have also realised that my skin is rather delicate and doesn’t respond very well to the potent Tea Tree Oil, which is otherwise good for acne prone skin. Nothing off the shelf helps either beyond a day or too. I drink plenty of water and exercise at least four times a week. What else? Greens, infused water, supplements, salads–all that is a natural part of my regimen.

Do help, because I just don’t know what’s going on with my face anymore.

hello, thank you for this post. im a teen currently 15, i have an issue with white heads. the kind of acne where its just bumps, with solid sebum inside the pore. it only comes out if i squeeze it myself, which leads to dark spots. this is has been going on since i was 12, and its really fustrating. im taking the hemp oil as a cleanser and moisturizer into consideration. i see that you specialize in skin for adult women, since i am still an adolescent would this treatment not apply to those in my age?

hello and thank you for replying! yes.. i do realize its more harmful to my skin to pick and squeeze so im still working on it.. however i would still like to know if i can use the hempseed oil treatment despite being a teen? i actually tried it this evening and im pleasantly suprised by how little residue is left over especially since it sinks in my skin so well! :)Y

I did not like Jose Marin Argan’s oil – its was too oily ! The Somaluxe Argan Oil has improved the appearance of my thick coarse hair and has made it feel really soft and tamed my wavy/curly hair. What I like most about it is that it does not leave my hair with a greasy residue the way Jose Marin Argan Oil does.

Hi Fran: I just bought your hemp seed oil and mask. I love them! I was trying to get your link to work to see/buy the wash cloths that you recommend but it doesn’t work. Do you have a link to a recommendation? Thank you so much!

Hi Barbara, that is not my company actually, just a similar name! I no longer stock wash clothes either so take a look online to see what is available, or you can just use any wash cloth from a local store, that is fine. Natural fibre is better.

I love your blog and have been using hemp seed oil for a little over two weeks. I love the texture and use it to wash/moisturize my face at night, and I use raw honey in the morning. I also use ACV and a witch hazel mixture as a toner, and add in a tea tree oil/lavender oil mixture for its potent acne benefits. Because this regimen is still fairly new and I have a lot of tiny clogged pores, I’m wondering if it is normal that I’m experiencing more breakouts, especially in those areas that are clogged and if the hemp seed/ change to oil cleansing could have a purging affect?

I’ve been doing a lot of research lately and unsure what I should try next. I am in my late 20s and have had bad acne in the past but has been very under control the last several years, almost perfect most of the time but I had a very strict extensive regimen. I am aware now I probably should not have messed with a good system though. I’ve just been feeling like my skin looked a bit aged and starting to have some moderate breakouts. I am very fit but realize now the breakouts were probably due to excess sugar in the diet for the last several months and wish I’d cut that out first. I thought I was past the point of falling into disastrous skin again so I gradually quit using the benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid cleansers and went natural particularly thinking it would have to be better for the aging process. My skin went through the expected transition period but then seemed to be doing great just wiping with water in the morning and honey at night. Then I decided to use coconut oil to cleanse while exfoliating-foolish not to have done enough research. A few days later my skin was like a rash all over my face and would not go away at all for weeks. The whole rash looking bit subsided but my acne has just gotten progressively worse with bumps everywhere. I’ve tried ACV toner and think it helped a little but still could not get back to a good place. I’m starting to get scarring from it and just got engaged, talk about horrible timing :/ Its been over 2 months since my episode with the coconut oil and I’m just wondering if you have ever heard of this or any idea what I should try or do you think the coconut oil could even still be clogged in my pores its so thick. I’d hate to go back to the harsh chemicals and skeptical if I could even get the balance I had before back if I tried. I thought maybe trying salicylic acid cleansers again to chemically exfoliate for a while. My skins so sore from all the acne that I dont know if mechanically exfoliating will irritate it more. Ahh I’ve just bought some jojoba, argan, and hemp oils to try and find a balance, I’m just at my wits end now that I’m seeing visible pitting scars. Thanks for any suggestions. I’m living out of the country now and unfortunately won’t have any way to meet with a specialist so I’m trying to solve this on the internet!

Greetings, Fran
I loved your post on this as I just bought my first bottle of organic hemp oil. I wanted to try mixing it with 100% tea tree oil for my oily acne since the TTO alone burns my skin. I’m not sure what the ratio is for that mixture, however. I already use a gentle cleanser in the showet twice a day. So am I supposed to leave the mixture of hemp & TTO on my face overnight, wipe it with a cotton pad after a while, or wash it off completely? Thanks in advance!

Since hempseed oil needs to be refrigerated, is there any type of safe preservative I could add if I wanted to make a foaming face wash or makeup remover pads with it? Is vitamin E considered a preservative?

Hi Fran! I’m really excited about using hemp oil as my cleanser and moisturizer…I’ve been doing this for about 4 or 5 months with improved skin. I noticed yesterday when I washed my face I had mineral makeup on and rinsing the hemp off several times didn’t get the makeup off. When I patted my face dry with a towel, there was dirt and makeup. How should I cleanse when wearing mineral makeup and is it really cleansing my face well on days I’m not wearing any?
Thanks Fran!

You can do a couple of things. What I personally do (keeping in mind that I don’t wear makeup) is cleanse my face with rose water and a cotton bud, that’s all. If you are having trouble getting your makeup off then you can use a face wash cloth with warm water in addition to the hemp oil. You will need to wash the cloth afterwards to buy 10 of them and you can keep putting them in the wash.

What is the latest you want to wait to put on moisturizer after taking a shower(a shower in which you used hemp oil to cleanse with)?

Another way to ask the question is, how long after you use water on your face and it begins to dry, does the body began to produce sebum? (Which we want to avoid a bit in case it’s making bad sebum due to imbalanced hormones).

I often wonder if cleansing with oil and then moisturizing with oil afterwards (which is a span of about say ten minutes or so), is too quick for what is effectively two applications of oil.

Sometimes I think it best to shower with oil cleanse, then wait a few hours and moisturize before bed.

I am concerned that after five months of being on a detergent free cleansing method (e.g. with hemp oil), I am still breaking it out regularly. I am working on hormones within, yet haven’t won that battle. However if I’m using too much oil too quickly, it could exacerbate it the more inflammatory type acne (which I have a mixture cystic/inflammatory now).

What’s upsetting is that for years I had no neck acne, other than a few small bumps from harsh shaving and/or a really tight dress shirt collar.

Hi Isaac, it really depends on what your skin type is and where you live. For me, my skin is dry and I live in a dry climate so I need a second and even third application of oil/moisture. When I’m living in a humid climate I don’t.

Is my skin purging? I am on Day 2 of cleansing my skin with hemp oil. I have a bunch of whiteheads and small bumps all over my jawline, under my chin, etc. I do suffer from acne and have for many years, but my skin has been doing better lately, probably due to weaning my daughter from breastfeeding back in June. Should I keep cleansing my face with the oil or stop? I’m also ingesting 2 tablespoons a day.

Thank you very much! I have been excited to try this and I really enjoy your site.

I have been using jojoba oil on my face as a moisturizer for over a week.. My skin is dry and I have a problem using moisturizers…. I have come out with a few white pimples and I have been told this is normal (purging). How long do u have to use oil before you see results? 1 month? more?

I was wondering if you would recommend almond oil as well? My friend told me to use it, but I found I got a bunch of closed comedones along my jawbone as a result, although the pores on my cheeks and nose seem clearer. Could the closed comedones be part of a purging process as you had mentioned? Should I stick it out and see if it improves or change my oil?
Thanks so much for your help with this matter.

Really Jojoba providing many skin benefits to get glowing look. Moreover it has many other natural healing qualities. it also avoid hair fall problems and give you healthy shining hair. I am going to suggest all my friends about this.. keep sharing like this blog

Hello Fran,
I have recently started to correct all the damage that I have done to my skin. Its very dull, congested and sun damaged. I am in my late 30’s have always had inflamed feeling skin and acne off and on. I recently decided to try a light diy chemical peel that I used once a week for two weeks. I stopped using the peels because my pore size got larger I was told that I could use Aragon oil as a moisturizer . So that’s all I have been using . And now my pores are large. I wondering if the Aragon oil is clogging my pores ? And how can exfoliate with out making my skin inflamed.

Hi Holly, if your pores look large they are not clogged – if they are black (not grey) or little white raised bumps then they’re clogged. The aragon oil may just be too oily for your skin, try a different oil and yes, exfoliate.

My question is what brand of hemp seed oil do you recommend? I saw one brand in whole foods but it looked like it needed to be refrigerated and had an expiration date. Is all hemp seed oil like this? What can you recommend?

Fran can you clarify about storage of hemp seed oil? A lot of the popular brands list /say nothing about refrigeration which leads us to assume it can be shelved at room temperature.
Assuming it did need refrigeration, what does rancid hemp oil smell/feel like and what can it do to your skin?

hi fran,
I’m asking for my daughter who’s 22. We’re in the UK. She’s had mild-moderate-fairly severe acne since she was 12. Worse at 15 and now. She’s been on zineryt lotion since it started. This helped loads until the last 4-5 months. The acne is on her cheeks, forehead chin – mostly everywhere. She has v oily skin but it does get dry. She wears bare minerals foundation to cover the acne and scarring. 2 weeks ago she started on bare minerals mineralixirs facial cleansing oil and mineralixirs 5 oil blend on the advice of a lady at the bare minerals counter. Her acne seems worse. Should she continue for another 2 weeks or stop? The lady said it would get worse before better. We have organic hemp oil. Would this be better for her to use? I don’t want her to go on accutane or birth pills (all females in our family get hypertension with hormone pills). Any advice would be appreciated. Is the acne.org regime any good? Can you suggest any other cleanser/moisturiser if hemp seed oil not suitable. Thank you
Kind regards
Chris

Hi Fran,
First of all, thanks for all the great info you have here, I have learned a lot. I’ve battled with acne since I was 13 and I’m now 33. I consider my acne to be mild to moderate at times. All this natural skin care is new to me and I was wondering which oil you would recommend me to start with. I have very oily skin and have to use blotting sheets all the time.

Another user reported that hemp seed might be breaking them out. To which you suggested to try honey. Do you have a mention of a honey regime on your blog? And also, you advised that a possibility is ‘breakout is due to weaning off medicated products.’

Do you mean things like Benzyl Peroxide and other topicals?

I used to cleanse with Tea Tree (store bought, has Sulfate in it, it’s a detergent) and then moisturize with Jojoba.

As of the past few weeks I have been cleansing with Jojoba and moisturizing with Hemp Seed. I am getting a mixture cystic and inflammatory break outs on the sides of my neck – and they are clustered together so it almost looks like a rash.

Other than the hemp seed routine, nothing has changed for me.
I do not believe the answer is returning to my old regiment – what would you advise I do – move to Primrose?

Hi Fran,
I have been using hemp oil for about 3 months now. I switched from coconut oil, because I was getting lots of closed white bumps on my skin. I read about hemp oil and have noticed since using it some of the white bumps have surfaced and I can get rid of them thru squeezing. If I keep using hemp oil do you think the large ones that I have will surface or do I have to go to a dermatologist?

Hi Maria, I encourage you not to go to a dermatologist! The hemp oil could do the trick, or you could also try exfoliating more, using a clay mud musk, and/or using a natural salicylic acid nightly such as aloe vera gel fresh from the leaf.

Good Morning,
I just ordered hemp oil (Nutiva) and have seen that it is drying? How do I use it? I wash with an oil cleanser wash and I do not moisturize right now as I am to scared to try anything. In the morning I just use water and then a moisturizer with spf. I have clogged pores along my forehead some bigger than others and dry dull skin, it is wrecking havoc on my life:( would I use the hemp oil alone, or should I add it to my moisturizer? I can use any help as I am at a loss

Hi Mandy, hemp seed oil has a comedogenic rating of 0 but it is drying to some skin. I have a blog article that I recently posted about a weleda product that I use underneath the hemp seed oil and this prevents the dying issue without clogging the skin. Check it out.

Hello Fran, I am wondering if there’s anything I can do to help improve the smell of hemp oil (I’m using organic cold pressed)…I can tolerate the smell but my husband cannot stand it and the smell just reeks. I’ve only been using the oil for about a week and I would like to stick to using it if I can.

Hi Fran,
I just bough hemp seed oil for cleansing and moisturizing and I’m so excited. Have you found it leaves a green pigment on face or does it go away once it soaks in? I washed my face with a gentle washcloth and saw how green it was. Thanks!

Hi Fran,
I initially found you on youtube and the I stumbled upon this site when looking into Hemp seed oil. I just started using jojoba oil exactly one week ago. I was/still nervous about using it. I’ve heard mostly good things about it but I’ve also read that it can sometimes clog your pores. Do you think I should switch to just hemp oil instead? I read that it has a 0 comedogenic rating and I have extremely oily skin. Right now I pretty much do what you described when cleaning my face. In the morning I add moisturizer with sunscreen.

Hi Stephanie, the molecular structure of jojoba oil is extremely similar to our skins own sebum so it actual mimics it. What this means is the jojoba oil is excellent at pulling out sebum plugs that are stuck so it can make your skin look worse temporarily.

Hi Fran!
I love your info and it’s helped me comfirm what I can do to help my acne. I have been doing ocm with jojoba and now switched to just cleansing without the extra steps. I know you are knowledgable, I’m a little worried that just rinsing the oil off with water might not be getting the bacteria and residue from the day off? Or does it. Thanks!

Hi Lucy, Thank you 🙂 We have a natural layer of protection on our face and neck called the acid mantle. We don’t actually want to scrub this off. Bacteria doesn’t “get” on the skin and need to be scrubbed off, it is formed on unhealthy and unbalanced skin.

Hi Fran!
I’ve recently been cleansing and moisturizing with hemp seed oil. I’m 20, normal/oily skin/acne prone and recently cleared up my acne that I had for years. Although it comes back when I eat things I am allergic to or before my cycle begins. I recently just bought lavender oil and have always used tea tree and was curious if you had any suggestions as to how I should incorporate it into my cleansing or moisturizing. Also what do you suggest exfoliating with? I also use an indian healing clay (sodium Bentonite clay) as a mask mixed with ACV daily because it constantly pulls out the toxins in my skin and it somehow keeps me clear of the cystic acne I faced for years.
Thanks!

Hi Lisa, lavender oil is excellent used as a simple spot treatment. I recommend exfoliating with a simple face wash cloth.. if you go to the “Don’t clog your pores” page on this website, all the information is in there.

Thanks for your post! 🙂 I’ve been using hemp seed oil as a cleanser & moisturizer for the past 3 days. So far my pores haven’t been clogged. I usually break out on my cheeks, but one side of my cheeck is fine with a little bit of acne scars but the other side I have a few red pimples and some whiteheads. Now I know this wasn’t caused from the hemp seed oil because I’ve had these pimples before I started using it. I feel like the hemp seed oil doesn’t soak into my face and I feel a tightness in my skin like a sticky residue. I live in Texas so the wheather is getting a bit more hot. Is there any advice you can give me about using hemp seed oil? Btw my skin is NOT dry after using it, it’s more sticky/tight. Thank you! 🙂

Veronica makes a good point about the hemp seed. If it’s meant to absorb(or that’s one of it’s benefits compared to Jojoba), what could be inhibiting that?

I used to live in Texas and the hot weather can be a toss up between dry heat and humid heat. The hemp oil sounds like the logical option that suits both weather types. However if it’s staying mostly on the surface, then the results may feel tacky in humid weather.

Veronica,

Can you tell us the brand you are using, and what do you apply it with – fingers, cotton pads etc? Is it heated oil or room temperature?

I have just started to wash my face with organic hemp seed oil after previously using jojoba oil. I did at first like using jojoba oil as a face wash then moisturiser but after about a month it was clogging some of pores and causing a few spots to apprear which were run and underneath my skin.

My question to you is what moisturiser do you recommend using after washing my face with hemp seed oil? I have tried using hemp seed oil as a moisturiser but I still have a bit of dry skin after using it and a shiny face. I have been using aqueous cream after washing my face with hemp seed oil. Any thoughts on that?

To give you a bit of background I’m a 37 year old male who has suffered from spots/acne since I was 15/16. I have fair skin and my skin does mark fairly easily when having to get rid of spots. I also suffer from dry facial skin (forehead/ around laughter lines of my mouth/cheeks) which I got as a result of using too many harsh spot treatments such as benzoyl peroxide when I was in my teens. I believe I have quite thin facial skin as a dermatologist told me this when I was prescribed roaccutane when I was 21. This did clear up most of my acne/spots but left me with very dry skin. The dermatologist told me to use aqueous cream for this. Which I have done now for many years since but because I think I have slightly combination facial skin I do still get some spots.

Also I was also wondering if you recommend anything for the faint red spot marks/scars I have.

Great post! I decided to try the OCM after too many years of occasional pimples and worsening blackheads (I’m 21 now, after all). Birth control didn’t seem to help my skin – in fact it seemed to make it worse. But after a month of the OCM (jojoba + tamanu + tea tree combo) I am quite fed up. While my skin looked/felt less oily and move even-toned, I started to break out with lots of pimples on my chin and some pretty painful under-the-skin pimples (maybe cystic acne?), especially on my cheeks/chin area. These were painful and not easy to deal with. I do have fair, sensitive skin, and I’m wondering if I’m over-stressing it. I just ordered some hemp oil and will absolutely be giving it a try! I’m a little nervous that the cystic acne will only get worse, and that I will be trying to recover from this for months. I guess hemp seed is my last-ditch effort.

I’m so thankful for your blog. I don’t know anyone else using hemp oil for acne so it can be rather lonely and confusing! I don’t use caster oil or any other oil due to my skin being very sensitive. I feel as if the less I use, the less than can go wrong. My question to you would be: do you think hemp oil is a good cleanser to use alone? I am pretty insecure about my acne, so I do wear makeup everyday. It’s s non-comudogenic makeup. I typically wash my face with honey mixed with hemp oil at night. I follow up with a neutrogena vitamin cream. I’m really wanting to do away with anything not all natural but that’s so hard when your skin feels like it needs more moisture. Am I typically use honey and hemp as well with a neutrogena oil free lotion with spf. I’m still breaking out. I don’t know if it’s “purging” phase or what. I am so bad at picking whrn its a whitehead as well. So again, is hemp oil good enough to use as a cleanser by itsself? Also, when you moisturize with hemp, how do you know if you’re using “too much” ? I’m so afraid I’m causing my face to get worse rather than better.

I’ve been using Jojoba oil as my cleanser/moisturizer for the past couple of weeks and my face is so incredibly dry. I actually had to start implementing my old, chemical-ridden moisturizer just because I couldn’t stand it anymore and I have nothing else. Before doing that my face wouldn’t even feel soft anymore. It felt like I had a mask on or something.

Also, I’ve been breaking out horribly all around the area of my mouth. I have at least 5 cystic pimples right now that are swollen, red, and painful. I also have smaller, milia-type bumps all over my face and random little white-heads that I never got before. I know Jojoba purges and that things tend to get worse before they get better, but I’m wondering what the time period for that typically is.

It’s difficult to stay devoted to this when my skin is horrible like it is right now :/ I am also worried the Jojoba oil might be clogging my pores? Hence another reason why I wanted to know when to expect my face to start clearing up at least a little, just in case that is the cause.

Thank you! I’d still like to know what the typical purging period is. I know you said that because of the intensity of that process with jojoba, you don’t typically recommend it for people with comedonal acne. I can push through with it as long as I have a time-frame in mind of when it should be clearing up. And if it doesn’t by then, I’ll know I should switch things up.

I am wondering about using 3 parts hemp oil and one part castor oil to try the OCM. I have seen some websites saying coconut or olive or almond oil as a dillute for the castor, but not hemp. I currently have rosehip, hemp and castor oil. I would like to try it, do u think it will work out for me
3 parts hemp oil and 1 part castor oil?
Thanks!

Hello, I’m loving all the natural skin car info. My problem is, I’m 16 and have never had major acne breakouts until I started oil cleansing with avocado/castor oil 6 weeks ago. In hopes of finding “my own mixture” I switched up the ratios to make sure castor oil wasn’t drying me out, then switched to castor and olive oil…. no improvement. Eventually I realized there was no way I was still purging after 4 weeks (considering I eat healthy and wasn’t using many chemicals previous to the switch) and quit putting anything on my skin for 1 week. Then I switched to organic, cold pressed hemp seed oil. I’ve been using it as a cleanser for a week and while some of my acne is clearing, more is popping up! I’m not using essential oils or a toner. I’ve moved to a new climate, but have been here 2 months already. Also have ruled out possible problems like stress/fabric softeners/unhealthy food. I’m ready to give up on using all natural products, any advice?
Thank you for your time!

Either the castor or olive oils clogged your skin, or they pulled out what has been stuck in there for years. Use a mix of aloe vera gel (fresh from a leaf – important) with lavender oil and hemp seed oil on your skin every night until your skin is clear.

I did try aloe/lav, but my HS oil had gone rancid by the time I got the plant so I couldn’t try all three simultaneously. My skin is just now clearing after switching to a non-oil cleanser, apple cider vinegar toner, grape seed oil, and a vegan diet. Thanks for the advice anyway! 🙂

Hi Fran,
I want to start off by saying that you’ve inspired me into using oils. I have switched from using jojoba to using the hempseed oil as my OCM and it has been working great. I sometimes mix 4 drops of hemp oil with a few drops of lemon juice and I massage it on my entire face at night to treat my acne especially those located below my lower lip area (hormone acne

Hi I have been a huge fan of the ocm for over a year now and I saw your video on youtube talking about hempseed oil, I just ordered some!! I’ve been using jojoba oil and honey as my nightly routine and almond oil as my daily moisturizer. I was wondering if the hempseed oil would be moisturizing enough as a moisturizer? I have dry skin but not ridiculously, with sensitive, acne prone skin, and the almond oil seems to take FOREVER to settle into my skin. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks!!!

Hi I was wondering if you could give me some advice .. I am interested in starting to use manuka honey for a face wash & then hemp seed oil for moisturizer since neither of these are going to clog pores .. I was wondering what is best for hyperpigmentation .. It’s like no matter what I do , I don’t even pop or touch my face .. It always leaves a red mark after getting a blemish

I don’t recommend manuka honey as a cleanser. The molecular structure of honey is too big to penetrate into our pores, so it needs to sit on the skin for at least 20 minutes for the medicinal component to mix with our natural oils and then sink back into the skin. Using manuka honey as a cleanser is a waste of it. If you want to use honey to cleanse, use a non-medicinal honey from a farmers market or health store.

The best thing for hyper pigmentation is regular exfoliation. You can also take MSM internally.

I am washing with Hemp Seed Oil and I am getting small cysts on my forehead, is this normal? Will it pass and clear up? I don’t know if I should change oils or add something in? I may start adding Jojoba oil, but I haven’t the best experience in the past with jojoba oil.

Hi Ashley, if you are worried that you are having a reaction to the hemp seed oil then I recommend cleansing with honey only. Honey does not have a molecular structure small enough to penetrate into the pores of our skin so you will not get worse acne or clogged skin by using honey UNLESS your breakout is due to weaning off medicated products.

Hi,
I am so glad I came across your very helpful site.
I have read a few articles in the benefits of using jojoba oil mixed with tea-tree and lavender oil for my mild acne.
I have now purchased these oils and would like to mix them to make my day and night moisturiser.
Can you please tell me how much of each oil to mix?

Hi Fran, I began using Hemp Seed Oil as a cleanser/moisturizer only a few days ago. My acne seems to be clearing up which is good, but my face has turned VERY dry. It is flaky & peeling in some areas. Do you have any suggestions for moisturizer, it seems as if the hemp seed oil would be a good cleanser for me to use, but not enough moisture. Any feedback would be appreciated.

been dealing with rosacea on my neck for years.. at least that is what some derms say I have while others say eczema and still other don’t know… I flush when emotional which is all the time, and my skin is so sensitive it isn’t possible for me to use most moisturisers or cleansers. I wash now with warm water in the shower until the skin is moist enough to rub off the previous cream I was using during the week. I started to use jojoba oil last week and what is happening is strange. My skin is getting very flaky but seems to be a bit less prone to flushing and is not all one red color now like a sunburn but blotchy. I have no idea what is happening, if it is working or what. My skin on my face is perfectly normal and not sensitive in the least but my neck doesn’t sweat when I work out or produce sebum at all. Is this dehydration or dryness? No way to know. Moisturising just masks the flakes. Please help me. Sincerely, Audrey

Hi Audrey, I’m sorry to hear that you’ve been dealing with rosacea. Dry, flaky skin when using jojoba oil is not normal. First make sure that you’re using enough of it. If you are using a decent amount then you may have a sensitivity to the oil.

I’m so grateful to have found this site! I went from various 3-step programs to using nothing except water to cleanse. I was using only water for about a week when I stumbled across your blog. After reading your recommendations, I got some hemp oil and started using it along with an exfoliating towel. I have a pretty good amount under the surface acne as well as blackheads and was excited to try the hemp oil as a cleanser. It has only been two days but it seem my skin is looking worse than it did when I was using nothing but water, and much much oilier… Any thoughts?

Hi Victoria, it depends on what your 3 step program was – was it a medicated tropical treatment like a BP? When we go off this often our skin gets very oily for a period of time before it balances back out.

I used brands such as Proactiv, Clinique, and a lot of national brands. Even though my skin doesn’t seem to be clearing up (maybe breaking out more?) with just the hemp oil, I am going to continue with it; it may take time. To aid the hemp seed oil, I bought tea tree oil and lavender oil to mix in. Is there a specific ratio to consider when mixing with either hemp seed or jojoba oil? Can I use the essential oils neat, or in a toner concoction? Another issue is that I can’t help but squeeze at least one or two small bumps a day; I am just about convinced I am causing a lot of the problem. I also think my hormones could be out of whack so I ordered some maca root and a few other adaptogens to see if they help. Thanks for your feedback; your website has been ever so helpful!

You’re blogs are super insightful! I’m just torn I didn’t find your website sooner 🙁 I have a quick question Fran, is hemp oil [Nutiva brand] the same as hemp seed oil? I found this hemp oil at a local organic market but I am not sure if it’s the same as the oil you are speaking of here. I would love to start using hemp seed oil as my facial cleanser and moisturizer.
Thanks again!

Hi Fran! I have ordered the Jojoba oil from your shop.
Since i have switched to “yours” i feel like my skin gets oilier again ?
I have used jojoba oil in total for about 8 weeks and it wasnt oily anymore maybe a tiny bit dry. I realize that the Australian jojoba oil is a much better quality, even though i think i bought a good one before – my old one didnt have a smell at all and my skin feels much softer. BUT still the oily part concerns me. i dont think i use too much: i clean with honey- wash it off- 1to2 small pumps jojoba oil and then rinse it off and pat dry…..
Do you have an idea why this is happening??? Thanks!!!

Hi Marie, I do find that the jojoba oil can leave an oily sheen on the skin which is why I use hemp seed oil (it soaks in better). Not to sorry, the jojoba oil is very unlikely to cause acne and that little sheen makes your skin look healthy!

Hi Marisa, first it’s similar to hemp seed oil in the way that it can go rancid very quickly, so best to purchase one that’s refrigerated in the health store. However, it has a high comedogenic rating so I do not advise it.

Hi Fran,
I am using Hemp seed oil on my face to moisturize, but the way i do is apply it in the morning and keep it there for the whole day. i don’t wash the oil off my face (it takes a few hours till my skin absorbs it all). Is that safe?
Thank you!

Hi Fran,
I was wondering if YOU could answer me a question, that I can’t find an answer to anywhere.
I’m wondering if you could use different oil every day?Like, have 3 oils, for example, and use only one different day and just alternate them?Or is it better for your skin just to stick to one oil?
I’ve been using Argan Oil for few months now and I absolutely love it and haven’t really notice any bigger break outs. Then about 2weeks ago I started also using Jojoba Oil, because I’ve read so many good things about it. I use both oils as a moisturizes at night, I put Jojoba Oil first and let it sink into my skin for about 15-30min and then put two drops of Argan Oil(just because I love it so much and want to use it! ) Jojoba Oil seemed to break me out a little bit, but that’s probably just the purging process(at least I hope so)it’s nothing terrible so I’m not freaking out about it yet. Now I also want to start using Hemp Seed Oil, because again, I’ve read great things about it. And I’m just wondering if it’s ok to use all three oil?And just use one a night and alternate them?Or can I just keep adding Argan Oil with both Jojoba Oil and Hemp Seed Oil(since that one is a bit drying)???
I hope to hear back from YOU soon.
Thanks a lot! 😉

I’ve been using hemp seed oil for about a week and it looks good when I’m bare faced but with foundation/BB cream on, my skin shows dry spots and looks flaky thesedays. I apply the hemp oil with aloe vera gel by Aubrey Organics for moisturizing and have used 4-5 drops or more in case I wasn’t using enough, but when I do put a lot, my makeup seems to be floating in the oil, looking greasy.. any tips on how best to prep the skin with hemp oil for makeup?

Hi J, I actually use a lot of the hemp seed oil, a lot more than a few drops. I’d say give it enough time to soak into the skin after you apply it before makeup. And I don’t know about the moisturiser you’re using from Aubrey organics so I don’t know what difference that is making…

HI Fran
I’ve been using the hemp oil for a month but my blackheads are getting worse. I have been taking vitex and EPO for 4 months. I’m noticing a great improvement in my acne and only have a couple of red inflamed spots now, but I have noticed that my blackheads seem to be bigger and more pronounced on my skin – also seems to be more of them. This has been since I started using the hemp. Any ideas what this may be or how to combat it?
Thanks, Ester

Hi Ester, there isn’t one thing that works well for everyone. Try cleansing with just honey for a while to see if it makes a difference. Honey is not able to penetrate into the pores so it’s impossible to clog them.

Hey Fran, It’s been exactly a month since I’ve been using the hempseed oil morning and night as a cleanser & moisturizer, along with an occasional manuka honey mask and I use lavendar and melaluca (tea tree oil) from doTerra (I bought an organic tea tree oil that made me break out in a bunch of cystic acne on my jawline & chin-which I know for sure because that’s the only area that I put the oil on my face. I HIGHLY recommend doTerra oils, they work amazing!!!) &/or fresh aloe vera as a spot treatment. Other than one pimple I got on my jawline (it’s that time of the month in a few days :)) which I thought was going to be deep and last forever to go way, it’s pretty much a dried scab now , in 2 days! My main skin concern at this point is my congestion which is on my cheeks and some on my chin and forehead which is SO SO annoying! I notice over time there are areas on my cheeks where there is now no congestion, I don’t feel any bumps under my skin, but still a ton. I wear Jane Iredale makeup and notice midday my skin has a sheen all over from the oil and it emphasizes the congestion and when I touch the makeup pretty much comes right off. Am I maybe using too much oil, I feel like it’s not sinking into my pores correctly? You think maybe I should just cleanse and moisturize at night? I skipped it this morning just to experiment and my face already is starting to feel dry.

First of all is just want to say my heart goes out to you and your loss Fran. May he rest in peace.

As for all of the congestion I never thought that could stem from an internal imbalance, that’s good to know. I’ve been changing my eating habits and drinking more water and my inflamed acne is going wayyy down. When my congestion started I was using a ton of products in beauty school so I assumed it stemmed from that. But I will just have to be patient and see. 🙂 I want to see a naturopath soooo bad to try and find the root cause but it’s soooo expensive so we will see.

In the morning I don’t moisturize with the hempseed anymore which is working fine and not causing my skin to look as shiny. I use Jane Iredale mineral makeup. It’s a pressed powder. I just feel so overwhelmed because I have so much acne information and changing things but feel like I’m getting nowhere ya know? Lol…I just don’t see improvement in my face when I’m changing so many other things for my skin and health.

I stumbled accross your wonderful website a few weeks ago when my sister was reading all about the dangers of using benzoyl peroxide on your face. I would like to pick your brain on a few questions I have, but first I want to share my story:
First off, my two younger sisters and I have been using one of the leading skin care products (I’m afraid to mention it here so I won’t) and one of the key products we were consistantly using was a benzoyl peroxide lotion treatment. We would use it in tiny amounts as a spot treatment, but once we found out the dangers of using it, we stopped using it, cold turkey. Instead we have been applying Tea Tree oil on our pimples, which has seemed to work.

While we were using the benzoyl peroxide, we also had been applying coconut oil to our faces as a moisturizer. Yes, I know way too high on the comedogenic scale, but we had no idea! We had been using the oil for about a year consistently. We girls have very sensitive, dry skin, especially in the Winter. We were just in the process of ramping up our usage of the oil right when I found your article on hempseed oil.

Well, we have now been using the hempseed oil for a full week now, and all of a sudden, from out of nowhere I have pimples in patches on my forehead, on my cheeks nearest my nose, and on my temples. My sister too have had a pretty good increase in pimples since we have started using the hempseed oil in the way you explain here on your website.

So, my questions are: did we purge ourselves too quickly from using the benzoyl peroxide? Or is it just the fact that we were using coconut oil as our daily moisturizer, and now the hempseed oil is helping to get rid of the clogged pores? My middle sister and I also use mineral liquid foundation. The tube says its non-comedogenic, but it doesn’t have a list of ingredients so I don’t really know if it is or not. Could this be a factor?

Thank you for taking the time to read my story! I hope I can hear from you soon! We love your website and hope to learn as much as we can from your example! It so good to have people like you to help the novices like us get clear!

Hi Jessica, it’s difficult to say what’s going on without getting a full history from both of you – there are just too many factors involved. What I can say is that coconut oil does actually work for some. It can be extremely pore clogging on some skin (like my own), but for others it can clear the skin up. It’s hit or miss.

What MAY have happened is that your skin became damaged from use of the chemical acne topically, and then worsened by clogged up pores with coconut oil. The BP may have prevented new acne from forming while you were using the coconut oil, but this doesn’t mean you didn’t have clogged pores because BP doesn’t prevent that.

Now that you’ve stopped everything it’s likely all coming out. You may even want to be more gentle temporarily and use a honey (if you’re not vegan) as a cleanser, and then just the hemp seed oil as a moisturiser alone if you skin needs it.

Also use all of the recommendations in the blog post I wrote about exfoliation – especially the recipe for the aloe/colloidal silver lotion.

And please look at internal issues to in order to figure out WHY you’re getting these clogged pores and therefore acne in the first place.

Hi Fran,
I have tried mixing hemp oil with honey to cleanse so that it won’t be too drying after cleansing and used more hemp oil to the point that the oil drips along my lips. However, I still feel that my skin is tight. What should I do? Also, I still have clog pores on my forehead, cheeks and pimples on my chin (maybe due to the dehydration?).

Hi Fran,
I have been using hemp seed oil as a moisturiser for a month now and using honey for 2 weeks to cleanse my face. It seems like hemp seed oil is not hydrating enough, my skin is taut during the day (when I laugh, my skin stretches uncomfortably). Should I give a mixture of rose hip seed oil and hemp seed oil a try? Or can you recommend alternatives?

Hi Natalie, if your skin is tight or dry in ANY way (as your is), the it’s definitely too dry. How much hemp seed oil are you using? Could it be that you’re just not using enough? I actually use a lot.

I was having the same problem with hemp seed oil. My skin was very dry and flaky. I use honey as a cleanser in the evening and hempseed oil as a moisturizer right after. I started using MUCH MORE hempseed oil as Fran suggested and my face is no longer dry and flaky. Sometimes if I apply the hempseed oil and don’t go to bed right away I apply more right before I go to sleep. I also stopped washing my face in the morning which helps a lot as water is very drying to the skin.
Hope this helps 🙂

I had the same problem with the hhemp oil it was too dry and it was suggested to use more, so I did and then I got eczema. So please be careful! Eczema isnow gone and I only wash with
Water and ooccasionally with saltwater. Best of luck